A Refreshing Morning

by HEAB on April 16, 2011

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I apologize for my funk yesterday. Gloomy weather always gets me down, but Summer and I did end up doing some mall walking. Mall walking is A) boring and B) expensive. Hehe, don’t know if we’ll be doing that again, especially when I discovered that the closest mall now has a Free People store. Their clothes are so my style, and I could get in major trouble there. Must stay away!

Today is going to be a better day as I’m attending a 2-hour Vinyasa tune-up workshop this afternoon with my favorite yoga teacher, and let me tell you, my vinyasa practice could use some major tuning. I’m hoping the class will help me get back in my yoga groove.

In other news, I made a delicious breakfast. It was one of those bowls that I hoped would never end.

Blend rolled oats together with coconut milk and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Remove thickened oats from fridge and blend with remaining ingredients on high except chocolate.

Stir in 1/2 chocolate and use the remaining as topping.

It tasted straight-up like melted chocolate mint ice-cream, and I bet if you added a few ice cubes or used Katie’s Blender Ice-Cream Trick, you’d achieve more of an ice-cream like texture…who needs Baskin Robbins?

mint chocolate chip oatmeal?!? And I thought I couldn’t love you any more than I do! I just finished breakfast, and now I want a repeat… oh, and you’ve reminded me that I’ve been neglecting my beloved blended grains trick.

Also, speaking of the ice cream trick: HEAB, I found a recipe that made me think og you right away, because I couldn’t finish it; it was SO huge. I said, “This is a Heather-sized breakfast!” I need to write a post about it soon, but basically it’s just almond milk, stevia, and a few other ingredients using the ice cream trick to make an overflowing bowl of ice cream… you need the costco dish to eat it without getting super-cold .

Um, and now I’m rambling. Anyway, just wanted to tell you it made me think of you. And every time I think of you, it makes me smile .

This looks so amazing! After some folks suggested I make a mint chocolate dough ball recipe, I have been craving this flavor like craaazy! I think this smoothie would definitely please the somewhat-picky-about-smoothies husband, too. I’ll just tell him the green is from “mint”, not avocado Hehe. Thanks for the great idea Heather!

It’s pouring here HEAB – definitely a day for the mall – but I’m not even going to step outside. Oh well.

That picture looks delightful! I love the green (and the chocolate -duh). I’m still iffy on using avocado in recipes – I put it in Quinoa Berry Muffins and they tasted good – definitely a moist consistency!

ahh my closest mall (and the one where my gym is) is opening a Lulumon this weekend. I’ve been so good about avoiding them but I just know I’m going to get sucked in. Also, I don’t know if you have Lohmanns but I find great Free People stuff there all the time and it’s about 1/4 of the cost since they are always having sales and coupons on top of already discounted prices.

Kelly Michelle,
No, we do not have a Lohmann’s. I think TJ Maxx and Marshalls both carry the Free People brand, but I never shop at either. I’m a horrible bargain shopper…don’t even get me started on Lululemon. So easy to get sucked right in. Good luck!

HEATHER. Heather, Heather, Heather. I’m WAY too excited right now over the fact that we share a love for Free People. I’ve been obsessed with FP for years, and pretty much whenever someone asks me where I I bought any given piece of clothing I might be wearing, the answer is always the same: Free People. I’d be in trouble too if FP STORE opened up near me. For the sake of my wallet, thank God that has never happened. But from one fellow FP fan to another, I’ll be sending you strength to refrain!

Also, we’re twins because I definitely made something very similar to this yesterday for breakfast. Mint chocolate chip is just one of those classic flavor combinations – I always forget how outlandishly delicious it is until I’m eating it again! (And then I scold myself for forgetting…) YUM!

Desi,
I’m the same way with mint chocolate. I don’t eat that combo often enough. Let’s get together soon for some Free People shopping and some homemade Thin Mint eating. I bet we could come up with a yummy gluten free version. Sound good?

Heather! Yesssss! Count me in. I’ll get crackin’ on a gluten free thin mint recipe in the meantime, as it may (sadly) be a while before we’re in the same place for a date (I’m all the way in California!)… hehe

I knew you’d do an avocado version– yay! It looks so creamy and wonderful with the addition of coconut milk and avocado. I really need to get on the overnight oats smoothie bandwagon and give it a shot! I bet coconut butter atop with chocolate would be magical tasting, too

You and me both, sister! Anthropologie, J.Crew, Free People and all those other stores like that I cannot get out If I stay in there too long, my wallet is not a happy- camper
xoxo

Chocolate mint is the best!!! Seriously-my all time favorite flavor! Last night I made myself a chocolate mint cake for one by using my grain-free bitter chocolate cake for one recipe…SO GOOD!!! I topped it with some yummy minty avocado pudding as frosting so it looked really authentic

I eat this every night!! I’m not kidding. I just call it oat pudding. I make a batch of oat bran and a smoothie with whatever flavors and then mix them together. The textures are so great together, and I like that it isn’t too hot or too cold. I’ve tried blending them together, but then I miss the little oat bran nuggets.

And Free People was my favorite store in Hawaii. I’ve never seen it on the mainland though. I’m on the lookout now!

Katie,
You eat a smoathie every night? I love it! Good idea to combine the two together rather than blend in the oat bran. I’ve eaten oat bran topped with protein ice-cream, but never just stirred into a smoothie. I love your brilliant mind.

Ok, I could totally get in trouble at that store. Love those clothes! The smoothie looks delicious. I’ve been craving mint chocolate chip lately…I just wish it was warmer for me to have a smoothie. I hope you have a great Saturday! We are cleaning out the crap in the house. No fun.

That minty smoothie looks awesome. I bet it would rock on a hot summer morning. Of course if you add unsweetened chocolate to anything I’m in. I still can’t thank you enough for giving me the push to try it!

Holy amazing!! I want to eat that right now. It looks very refreshing and satisfying. I think I am going to try that but with frozen coconut milk ice cubes for a bit more of a “blizzard” consistency. Mmmm!

I bought Baker’s chocolate instead of the more expensive stuff in honor of you. It’s just as good!

Also, a note on Vandy . . . I’m actually leaning towards UVa now! I’m still not 100%, but I’ll let you know when I decide. It’s going to be really hard to turn down Nashville and the chance to babysit Summer! . . . And Fido’s . . . Both Charlottesville and Nashville are such great places to be.

And Free People is a PROBLEM for me! It’s my favorite store AND it happens to be literally two blocks from my apartment. So dangerous. I have to make myself not go in, but lately I’ve been splurging. Oops! Good luck staying away!!!

This looks awesome! I’m still dying to make your cookie dough “smoathie”… bananas here are ridiculously expensive ($13/kilo) so I’m waiting for the prices to go down!! =P Since this doesn’t have banana I might try this instead though!

OMG I am totally making this when Lent is voer and I can eat chocolate again. Plus, this recipe gives me an excuse to buy peppermint extract, which I have been meaning to do for a while now. It sounds (and looks) like an all around winner. Winning.

I’m so glad you’re feeling a bit brighter today, Heather! I can definitely see how a delicious bowl like this would lift your spirits, but I’m sure Summer’s smiling face, and knowing that you’re a fabulous mother, helps too

Mmm, looks like a big ol’ bowl of my mint chocolate chip dessert hummus! Nothing like a little zip of mint to get a morning off on the right foot…especially after a day like the other day! Hope you are enjoying the sunshine we’re getting today! Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

This looks super tasty! I have a question – do you drink it or eat it with a spoon? When I think of a smoothie I think of it as a drink but I’ve seen lots of smoothies poured into bowls lately! Maybe I’m missing out.